Police have arrested a 27-year-old man following a raid on an operation allegedly producing large quantities of forged degree certificates, official documents and institutional seals at a rented house in Imbulgoda, Gampaha.

The raid was carried out after the Gampaha Police Intelligence Unit received information about the operation and conducted an investigation using undercover officers. The Yakkala Police Officer-in-Charge was subsequently informed, leading to the raid.

The suspect, a resident of Tangalle, had allegedly been operating the racket from a house rented for Rs. 35,000 a month.

Police seized two laptops, two smartphones, a printer, 35 forged certificates, 51 official seals belonging to heads of various institutions and three embossing seals.

The seals and letterheads of universities, government and private institutions, banks and other organisations were allegedly being produced at the premises.

Among the seized items were seals linked to the Department of Inland Revenue, the Department of Examinations and several state and private universities, including the Universities of Peradeniya, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kelaniya, Moratuwa, Ruhuna, Rajarata, Wayamba and Uva Wellassa.

According to police, the suspect had allegedly been operating the racket for around a year, selling ordinary forged certificates for between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000.

Forged certificates intended for use in countries such as Japan were reportedly produced for as much as Rs. 400,000.

The suspect has allegedly told investigators that around 200 people may have travelled overseas using forged documents produced through the operation.

Yakkala Police are conducting further investigations, and the suspect is due to be produced before court.